Root Canal Treatment
What is Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is a treatment of the center of the tooth that is inflamed, infected or dead. The center of the tooth, called the pulp, is a soft substance that consists of nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue. Symptoms of the infection include visible injury or swelling of the tooth and sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums. If you experience any of the symptoms, contact our dental office in Arlington.
Our dental team will take an x-ray of the tooth. If your dentist determines that you need root canal treatment, he will get you out of immediate pain if necessary or schedule an appointment. Typically a root canal can be completed in one visit.
Before starting root canal therapy, a local anesthesia will be administered to ensure your complete comfort. A popular myth is that a root canal procedure is painful but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Once numb, it is a painless procedure. The infected canal, which caused the original pain is removed through a small opening in the top of the tooth to gain access to the pulp. The pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the root canal, is removed from the chamber and canals. The canals are then cleaned with a disinfecting solution. X-rays may be taken throughout the procedure to ensure each canal is being adequately treated.
Once the canals are cleaned, they are filled with a rubber-like material to protect and seal. The tooth is then prepped at the same appointment for a full coverage crown. A temporary filling may be placed in the opening until it can be replaced by a permanent full coverage crown if the dentist feels the tooth needs to rest before being crowned.
After the procedure, your tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days. This discomfort may be relieved with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications. Root canal therapy can preserve a patient’s tooth for a lifetime.
Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with our dentist to ensure your treatment is healing correctly. If a problem occurs, contact our dental office in Arlington. To prevent further decay, continue to practice good dental hygiene daily.
